Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-09-10
A PLEA FOR OUR FARMERS

the great mass OF our PRODUCING
population; untold wrongs are hear
ed upon them and, as lambs led ~
the slaughter, they open not tbor,
mouths in protest. Is it became
they feel not the oppression ; is 4
because they are ignorant of tho
causes; or is it that they prefer thu
vassalage to which they are subject
ed to that ofstalwart manhood. assert.
ing their equal rights to the protec
ting care of both State and National
governments They should ia
mand and receive no more and No
less than this, although paying into
the public treasury 80 per cent. If
all revenues. They should most as
suredly be fostored and cared "a,
more diligently in the future than in
the past. What is the condition Of
the farming interests of our STATE
in spite of the bombast which 50
often finds its way into our public
prints, setting fourth prosperity
growth of our State and success Of
our farmers. l will only say the
facts are the reverse of the state.
ments so fiauntingly put fourth from
time to time. Depression stamps
the farming interests of our State
Year by year the farmer sees bis
lands depreciating in value, year by
year he reads his tax receipts with
a heavy heart, year by year heavier
burdens are placed upon him BY
onorous taxation, prices of his pro
ducts reduced, his young and stall.
wart sons emigrating, seeking a
more just reward for labor. Is this
drain upon our best population be.
ing replacedf Not at all. The
wild cat titles to so much ofthe land
of our State has a world wide repute
Not minister or consul represent
ing Europe at our Capitol at Wash.
ington, who does not warn his sub.
jects, seeking homes in our nation,
to avoid West Virginia on account
OF defective land titles. About US
on every hand are the evidences Of
decay of our farming interests. In
former years grazing paid. Not so
now. In former years the cereals
produced found ready market at
remunerative prices. Not so o.day.
Wheat cannot be sold by a Lewis
county farmer tor rs cents per bush.
ell, cash; it costs So cents to raise
it. With all the skill and economy
on the part of our farmers of today
they think themselves lucky if
at the end of the year their taxes
are paid and they are out of debt.
Now, Mr.. Editor, l have drawn a
gloomy picture Of our farming inter.
ests. particularly of our State. Yet
it IS not overdrawn, or in the least
highly colored. You make the in.
quiry, which is made on every side,
for the proposed remedy of the evils
complained of and the causes pro.
ducing the general stsgnatiOns and
depression of our farming interests.
1 frankly admit the query is
poser and a difficult one to answer
Nevertheless win attempt to point
out some of the causes that ] think
exist and suggest the remedy de.
manded by the great agricultural
interests of our State. First, we
want wiser and better Legislation,
looking more closely to the great
interests of our farmers. We want
wise and intelligent gentlemen,
closely identified with the agricnl
tural interests, and much less num-
Der of lawyers and professional poll
ticians to represent us ia our legs.
lative halls. No intelligent man
but knows the farming interests Of
this State are grossly and wrongful
ly Disseminated against by our pres
ent system of taxation. Corpora
tons, such as banks, railroads, &C.
do not bear equal proportion with
the farmer of the burden Of taxation
There is something wrong with our
system OF taxation. While the
farmer pays on everything in bis
possession, millions in value escape
through the dOdging system OF not
only corporations but individuals
Do we need to pay the Public
Printer bills running into the tboas'
ands for school catalogues, blanks,
&C., that could be simplified, and
thus save money to the Statei And
yet again, wherein lies tie justice
that we should be taxed to give rich
mems sons a professional education,
to make lawyers and doctors oil
them, as is the case at the STATE
University. / go futher and say, IL
is a gross wrong on the taxpayers
that they should be taxed TO give
any mans son o collegiate education
as is being done at MoTgantoEn,
as l do that a State fuitils
her duty when the youths Of the
same are given the opportunity az
the States expense of receiving
good education. Cynosure positions
around our State Capitol should "
Topped off. Secretaries Of the Boafu
a u y ~ "a -